Plumber License from Illinois to Nevada: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) — nonprofit statewide plumbing examiners board, in partnership with Clark County ↗
No — Nevada has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Illinois plumbing license holders. You must apply to the Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) — nonprofit statewide plumbing examiners board, in partnership with Clark County as a new applicant and meet Nevada's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
Nevada has no plumbing reciprocity or endorsement covering Illinois, so this is a full journeyman application either way. No exam transfer or reciprocity — NBOPE waives its journeyman examination for no one; every applicant, including out-of-state plumbers, must document four years of apprenticeship or 8,000 hours of experience and pass the two-part NBOPE Journeyman Plumber examination. The productive plan: gather proof of the apprenticeship or on-the-job hours you logged in Illinois, register for Nevada's journeyman exam, and treat your experience as exam preparation and as credit toward Nevada's experience requirement. Budget a new-applicant timeline and order your certified license history early — it is the long-lead item.
What changes, Illinois → Nevada
| Illinois (current) | Nevada (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $225 (Application fee for a plumber registered or licensed in Chicago or outside Illinois is $225 (an in-state Illinois licensed-apprentice applicant pays $175); a separate $150 plumber's license fee applies on issuance (68 Ill. Adm. Code 750.1100). The City-of-Chicago reciprocity (license without exam) carries a $150 license fee. Returned-check fee $100) | $250–$340 ($250 exam/application fee (computer or paper); $340 if taken at a Prometric test center (additional $90). No separate reciprocity fee — NBOPE offers no reciprocity. Reschedule/cancel penalties of $35-$50 may apply) |
| Processing time | No board-stated processing time; the examination application is due at least 30 days before the examination date | ~4 weeks (NBOPE/NITC directs applicants to allow up to 4 weeks to process the application and payment before an exam may be scheduled) |
| Licensing authority | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Plumbing Program | Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) — nonprofit statewide plumbing examiners board, in partnership with Clark County |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Nevada sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Nevada's initial-licensure requirements on the Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) — nonprofit statewide plumbing examiners board, in partnership with Clark County website (linked below).
- Expect to meet Nevada's education/experience requirements and pass its required exams — prior out-of-state licensure may still count toward experience.
- Submit the standard (new applicant) application with fees ($250–$340 ($250 exam/application fee (computer or paper); $340 if taken at a Prometric test center (additional $90). No separate reciprocity fee — NBOPE offers no reciprocity. Reschedule/cancel penalties of $35-$50 may apply)).
- Allow ~4 weeks (NBOPE/NITC directs applicants to allow up to 4 weeks to process the application and payment before an exam may be scheduled).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Nevada accept a Illinois plumbing license?
No — Nevada has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Illinois plumbing license holders. You must apply to the Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) — nonprofit statewide plumbing examiners board, in partnership with Clark County as a new applicant and meet Nevada's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Which exam applies moving from Illinois to Nevada?
No exam transfer or reciprocity — NBOPE waives its journeyman examination for no one; every applicant, including out-of-state plumbers, must document four years of apprenticeship or 8,000 hours of experience and pass the two-part NBOPE Journeyman Plumber examination.
What does the Illinois-to-Nevada move cost and how long does it take?
$250–$340 ($250 exam/application fee (computer or paper); $340 if taken at a Prometric test center (additional $90). No separate reciprocity fee — NBOPE offers no reciprocity. Reschedule/cancel penalties of $35-$50 may apply); processing ~4 weeks (NBOPE/NITC directs applicants to allow up to 4 weeks to process the application and payment before an exam may be scheduled), plus the exam and experience-documentation costs of qualifying as a new applicant.
Can I keep my Illinois plumbing license after I'm licensed in Nevada?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Illinois credential active on its own renewal and continuing-education schedule and you hold both, which is common for plumbers working near a state line.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- NBOPE — Journeyman Plumber certification requirements (4 yrs / 8,000 hrs; allow up to 4 weeks) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NBOPE — Exam Information (2024 UPC, two-part exam, 75% / 113 points, 3-year validity) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NBOPE — Certification Application for Journeyman and Master Plumber (Form 850-06 Rev 02-12-26; $250 exam / $340 Prometric) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Illinois DPH — Application for Examination for Plumber's License (fees $175 in-state / $225 out-of-state; out-of-state section; 4-year 225 ILCS 320/10(d) requirement) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Illinois DPH — Application for Plumber's License Reciprocity with the City of Chicago License Without Examination ($150 fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 68 Ill. Adm. Code 750.1100 — Plumbers' and Apprentice Plumbers' Examination and Licensure Fees (Legal Information Institute) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Illinois DPH — Plumbing program (license types, license verification link) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]